9 More and the Sun Returns

At the time of writing my last update we were having some serious rain that finally added up to 44mms. The river actually went to 90 on the evening of the 19th. This flood has since kept the water at a good level for fishing, with the gauge now at 25, which is still plenty water for fish to run. There are some fish running at the moment, but the 23 degrees and clear blue skies do not actually help. Present indications are that the beautiful weather will continue till the weekend at least.

First fish since my last update was Charles Cooper, who has come for three days in week 25 for the last 25 years. In that time Charles has only blanked once, which is an amazing feat. On this occasion he left it until the final hour! He had a lovely 5lbs2ozs fish from the Quarry Pool on the only fly he fishes, a Willie Gunn. The following morning, the 20th, with the river at 60, Margaret Downes had a cracking 8lbs6ozs sea liced fish from the Rock Pool on a Willie Gunn, which Noel Wallace landed for her in the Kings. Roxanne Davies had a fish in the afternoon of 5lbs10ozs from the Turn Pool on a Delphi Collie.

The following morning, her mother Julia Horne landed a nice grilse of 3lbs14ozs in the Rock Pool, again on a Delphi Collie. Simon Romer-Lee landed his first ever salmon, a fish of 7lbs, in the afternoon off Finlough on a Willie Gunn. John Hamilton’s persistence paid off when he landed a nice grilse of 3lbs10ozs at the bottom of the Meadow Pool on a Delphi Collie on the 22nd.

We then started a busy week 26, with the return of a long standing group from Bavaria. Their enthusiasm is still good, despite the magnificent weather, although there has been a few more beach trips than usual! Despite the susshine there have been a few fish lost and three landed. Holder Peres had a fish of 4lbs7ozs from the Bridge Pool this morning on a Beaded Nymph. Jenny Lucas and her husband Geoff, decided on a trip to Doolough this morning rather than the beach. Jenny landed two lovely fish of 4lbs15ozs and 4lbs7ozs and they lost a couple more.

Hopefully, despite the difficult conditions, there may be a few fish landed, especially when the water holds up for the next few days. D.McEvoy